Member Spotlight: Denise B.
Author: Susie Nelson | Owner of The Cycling Yogi
There are milestones… and then there are 3,000 class milestones!
Denise B. recently hit 3,000 classes at The Cycling Yogi, and if you know Denise, you know she’d be the first to say she’s still just “showing up.” But her journey is a powerful reminder that consistency doesn’t have to be flashy…it just has to be honest.
Denise started coming to The Cycling Yogi back in 2013. She didn’t love exercise, but she knew she needed something. The idea of a combined cycle and yoga class intrigued her, the studio was close to home, and the early morning options fit her life. Yoga wasn’t even on her radar back then.
“I was intimidated at first,” she admits. “But the studio was welcoming and friendly.”
What kept her coming back wasn’t just the workout…it was the people.
“The instructors are amazing, caring people who bring their own individuality to each class. The classes are predictable and unpredictable at the same time. You know what to expect when you arrive, but you always leave having experienced something unique.”
The Turning Point: Mental Health & Consistency
Denise can’t pinpoint one specific class that changed everything. Instead, it was a realization that slowly became undeniable:
“One day I noticed how much better I feel when I exercise. My mental health depends on it.”
On rest days, she noticed she had to work harder to stay patient and fight off feelings of depression and exhaustion. That awareness shifted everything. Exercise stopped being something she should do, it became something she needed.
Consistency followed.
The Power of Scheduling (and a Little Accountability)
If Denise has one secret, it’s simple:
“I schedule my classes at the beginning of the week. The schedule is the schedule, and I commit to it.”
She’ll also admit that not liking late cancellation fees helps. 😄
But the habit of deciding ahead of time removed the daily debate and made movement non-negotiable.
“Don’t decide the day of whether you’re going to class.”
Yes, She’s a 6AM Regular (and No, She’s Not a Morning Person)
“People may not know this,” she says (insert sarcasm), “but I am not a morning person.”
Still, Denise found her rhythm in the 6AM and early weekend classes.
“I feel like I need a crane to get me out of bed, but I never regret going. I’m more productive, my mood is better, and I don’t spend the rest of the day negotiating with myself about working out later.”
Her advice? Give morning classes a real chance. Your body and your mind…will adapt.
Debunking the Myth: ‘I Can’t Do That Pose’
Denise is quick to shut down one of the most common beliefs she sees in class:
“I can’t do that pose.”
“Yes, you can, with practice.”
Progress, for her, isn’t about comparison. It’s about trying something you once thought was impossible… and then doing it again at home just to prove you really can.
Why She Keeps Showing Up
Denise doesn’t rely on motivation. She relies on honesty.
“I lay in bed every morning and ask myself: Will I feel better after class than I do right now? The answer is always yes.”
She also admits that seeing familiar faces matters more than people realize.
“Even though I don’t say much when I first arrive, seeing the regulars feels like a hug. Like wrapping yourself in a blanket.”
Mantras That Stick
A few words she’s picked up along the way still guide her practice:
- “It’s a practice, not a perfect.”
- “Sometimes you have to make your own sunshine.”
- “If you have the courage to start something, you have the courage to succeed.”
3,000 Classes Later
When asked to describe hitting 3,000 classes in one word?
“WHAT???”
Why?
“Because I don’t even like to exercise.”
And yet, here she is.
What the milestone really represents isn’t perfection or peak performance, it’s validation.
“Even on days when I don’t feel my best, showing up matters. Every day doesn’t have to be your best day, it’s still a better day because you did something for yourself.”
What’s Next?
No big goal. No new milestone.
“Just keep showing up. Maybe not hate Planksgiving so much next year.”
Denise, your consistency, honesty, and quiet determination inspire us more than you know. Thank you for reminding our community that progress isn’t loud, sometimes it’s just 3,000 small decisions to show up.
We’re so grateful you found your way to The Cycling Yogi… and that you keep choosing to come back. 💛
